(From left) Hong Kong's Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po; Chief Secretary for Administration John Lee Ka-chiu; Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor; Lu Xinning, deputy director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR; Zheng Yanxiong, head of the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR; and Liu Guangyuan, commissioner of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the HKSAR, attend the opening ceremony of "China: A Century of Changes, China Album Photograph Collections Exhibition" at the Hong Kong Central Library on Oct 8, 2021. (EDMOND TANG / CHINA DAILY)

HONG KONG –  A photo exhibition that opened Friday in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region showcased the unfading blood ties between Hong Kong and the motherland over the past 100 years, as well as the great achievements of China.

Most of the exhibits displayed at Hong Kong Central Library were selected from over 10 million precious pictures in Xinhua News Agency's China photo archives that will bring Hong Kong residents back to the historic moments captured by cameras. There is also a special segment on Hong Kong.

The exhibition, sponsored by the China Merchants Group and running from Friday to Oct 17, is jointly hosted by the HKSAR government, the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR and Xinhua News Agency.

Amid the centenary anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China and the 72nd anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, the exhibition offers an opportunity for Hong Kong residents to have a better understanding of the country, HKSAR Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said at the opening ceremony of the exhibition.

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Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of "China: A Century of Changes, China Album Photograph Collections Exhibition" at the Hong Kong Central Library on Oct 8, 2021. (EDMOND TANG / CHINA DAILY)

Lam said she hoped the exhibition will help residents learn about the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation over the past century so that they can feel deeply the blood ties between Hong Kong and the motherland, and strengthen their national identity and pride.

Hong Kong has returned to the right track of "one country, two systems", thanks to the implementation of the national security law in Hong Kong and the improvement of Hong Kong's electoral system, she said.

Hong Kong will consolidate and enhance its advantages in the future, better integrate into the overall development of the country, and play an irreplaceable role on the country's journey toward its second centenary goal, Lam said.

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Lu Xinning, deputy director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of "China: A Century of Changes, China Album Photograph Collections Exhibition" at the Hong Kong Central Library on Oct 8, 2021. (EDMOND TANG / CHINA DAILY)

Lu Xinning, deputy head of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, also delivered a speech at the ceremony.

Deng Zhonghua, deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, and He Ping, president of Xinhua News Agency, made speeches via video link, extending their congratulations on the exhibition.

Zheng Yanxiong, director of the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, Liu Guangyuan, commissioner of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the HKSAR, and Chen Daoxiang, commander of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Garrison in the HKSAR, attended the ceremony.

The event also gathered HKSAR government officials, Hong Kong deputies to the National People's Congress, Hong Kong members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, HKSAR Legislative Council members, and representatives from political groups, commercial chambers and youth organizations, as well as school principals.

After the exhibition ends, some of the photos will be on display in Hong Kong schools and local communities.

A visitor takes photos of the exhibits during a tour of the "China: A Century of Changes, China Album Photograph Collections Exhibition" at the Hong Kong Central Library on Oct 8, 2021. (EDMOND TANG / CHINA DAILY)

A chaperone talks about a photo exhibit to guests during a tour of the "China: A Century of Changes, China Album Photograph Collections Exhibition" at the Hong Kong Central Library on Oct 8, 2021. (EDMOND TANG / CHINA DAILY)

A visitor views photo exhibits during a tour of the "China: A Century of Changes, China Album Photograph Collections Exhibition" at the Hong Kong Central Library on Oct 8, 2021. (EDMOND TANG / CHINA DAILY)

Kenneth Fok Kai-kong, a member of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, views photo exhibits during a tour of the "China: A Century of Changes, China Album Photograph Collections Exhibition" at the Hong Kong Central Library on Oct 8, 2021. (EDMOND TANG / CHINA DAILY)